England’s teenaged opener, who returned home after a finger injury in Mohali, will watch Cook & Co attempt to thwart India at Wankhede Stadium from Thursday
Haseeb Hameed
Rookie England batsman Haseeb Hameed, who grabbed eyeballs and made the cricketing world take note of his temperament and technique in the ongoing Test series against India, is all set to return to the sub-continent after successfully undergoing surgery on his left hand last Friday.
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The 19-year-old, who scored an unbeaten 59 with a plastered finger in the Mohali Test, flew back home to undergo treatment and was ruled out of the series. After a successful operation, Hameed has decided to watch his team battle it out in the fourth Test at the Wankhede Stadium from Thursday. England are currently trailing 0-2 in the five-match series. “Hameed’s elder brother Safwaan informed me that he underwent surgery on Friday and will arrive tomorrow to watch the Test in Mumbai,” Hameed’s Mumbai coach Vidyadhar Paradkar told mid-day yesterday.
Maidan lessons
It was only last year that Hameed visited the city to fine-tune his batting skills under the watchful eyes of Paradkar. The Bolton-born teenager also played a few matches at Cross Maidan. Paradkar is glad Hameed will be in Mumbai, but advised his ward to undergo proper rehab. “Though it seems tough, it is a good decision to be with the team. It’s off-season in England so watching England play here will be a good learning experience. Though he’s young, his approach is always positive and he’s eager to learn, which I think is a rare quality,” he added.
Hameed, who made his debut during the first Test in Rajkot, ended his series with 219 runs from three Tests with a highest score of 82 at 43.80. He scored two fifties.
Unflappable young man
England captain Alastair Cook called him ‘unflappable’ for his calm and level-headed approach. Hameed’s teammate Adil Rashid had said: “He has got a good head. He is very clever and works hard in the nets. He has also got a very good sense of humour and he is fitting well in the dressing room.” Now you know why he wants to be with the team five days after his surgery.
Paradkar, however, is a little concerned. “He needs to go through proper rehabilitation and should not be in a hurry to return to the crease,” said the Central Mumbai resident.
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